Hello fellow gardeners!

Another article was written about us! This one is in the Herald Tribune, printed this past week.Check it out here: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100826/ARTICLE/8261046

An update on the garden-level, fifteen plots have been reserved as of this past Thursday. Have you signed up for your garden plot yet? Here's the email again for information and the forms for plot reservation: greenbeyer@comcast.net

For those of you that are Facebook savy, here's the link to the Facebook page for Culverhouse Community Garden: tinyurl.com/2bhbl53

Next week we should have the wish list up with information about what we still need (with price estimates) as well as our progress on already donated/fundraised items. Want to be a part of the garden but don't have a green thumb? While our Fundraising Committee puts together their events consider donating as an alternative way to contribute to the Garden and Sarasota County Community.

What a week! We have so much news here at Culverhouse Community Garden that we need two blog posts instead of one.  Goodness gracious, what's the news?

The Culverhouse Garden Steering Committee has a few more members to introduce and welcome.

• First is Valentina Pippin our Treasurer. She's in charge of plot applications. Still need to sign up? Email greenbeyer@comcast.net for more information.

• Next we have Gisela Vaughan our Membership Chairperson who is taking care of our member's database. This will be essential for inter-garden communications making sure everyone stays informed.

• Another welcome to design committee members Mike Freeman and Jim Vaughan. They'll be managing the design of the 100 garden plot and our water distribution system.

• And last we have our Blogger, Lauren Lussier (that's me) who keeps the community informed via our FOSCP blog.

If April showers bring May flowers than all this rain in August might not be such a glum thing in the long run. Keep dry, everyone.

Hello again Sarasota County Gardeners! Here are our latest updates.

We've formed the Fundraising Committee, headed by Chairperson Sara Slate. Already there are whispers about Founder's Bricks, T-shirts, and maybe even a concert. More details will come in the following weeks.

On that same vein, a local group has applied for a matching grant to help pay for fences, benches, landscaping, a shed, etc. A special thanks to Marcia Freeman, Leila Frangie, Maria Ferrer, and Gene Penner for their help towards our garden's future.

In an effort to get the word out to our neighbors, Maria Ferrer is heading a committee to network with local homeowners associations so our local gardeners can get information about Culverhouse Garden and how to sign up. Many people still don't know about Culverhouse Community Organic Garden and Culverhouse Park. Spread the word!

A landscape Committee is meeting next week with county extension services rep. Annemarie Post to choose the Florida Friendly plants that will surround and border our circular garden plots.

Our first entry into the Culverhouse Community Garden Blog! This is so exciting.

Those of you who read the Pelican Press may have seen the article last week about the Sarasota County Commissioners approving the Draft Concept Plan for Culverhouse Park and our community organic vegetable garden.

Here's a link for those who missed the article:

http://www.pelicanpressonline.com/localnews/99890599.html

In other news, plot sign-ups have begun!

To get a membership application, email Chairperson Catherine Dente at greenbeyer@comcast.net and fill out the forms.

Join Parks Naturalists on a guided nature walk through Urfer Family Park. Learn tips about nature photography, and how to spot photo opportunities in a natural setting. Visit pine flatwoods, forested wetland, and cattle pasture with a working windmill right in the middle of town! The trail is approximately 1 1/2 miles, and is relatively flat.

Wear walking shoes and sun protection, and bring your camera or binoculars. Don’t forget to bring water!

For more information
call 941-861-5000

Dragonflies are a magical bunch – whimsical at best. Is it a dragonfly or is it a damselfly? Want to learn more? Join Kathy and Don Hess at Urfer Family Park for a different way to look at the beautiful dragonfly from 8:30 am – 10:30 AM on Saturday, August 28, 2010. Kathy and Don will lead you on a dragonfly hunt, explaining their lives, purpose and many species that live exclusively in this family park.
Urfer Family Park, located at 4000 Honore Ave., Sarasota is Sarasota County’s first Silver LEED certified park.

Participants should wear comfortable walking shoes fit for a possible muddy trail; bring a hat, sun screen, insect repellent, drinking water, binoculars (Short focal length recommended), and camera with a zoom lens (optional).
 
To reach Urfer Family Park, take I-75 to Exit 207 (Bee Ridge Road). Turn west at the exit taking Bee Ridge Road approximately 1.2 miles to the Honore Avenue intersection . Turn left onto Honore Avenue. The park will be on your right. We will be meeting at the parking lot at 8:15 AM and will start the walk promptly at 8:30 AM.
 
Register on-line at www.scgov.net. Click Calendar of Events on the left. Click the 'All Events' drop down list, choose 'Nature Walks', and choose your event. Follow the instructions for registration.  Space for this walk is limited to 10.

Dragonflies are a magical bunch – whimsical at best. Is it a dragonfly or is it a damselfly? Want to learn more? On Saturday, August 14, 2010, join Kathy and Don Hess at Deer Prairie Creek Preserve South entrance in Venice for a different way to look at the beautiful dragonfly. Kathy and Don will lead you on a dragonfly hunt from 8:30 – 10:30 AM, explaining their lives, purpose and the many species that live exclusively in this 6,439-acre preserve along the wild and scenic Myakka River.
 
Deer Prairie Creek Preserve was purchased through a partnership between Sarasota County’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program and the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The preserve is one of many public preserves that have been made available to the public through the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program.
 
Participants should wear comfortable walking shoes fit for a possible muddy trail; bring a hat, sun screen, insect repellent, drinking water, binoculars (Short focal length recommended), and camera with a zoom lens (optional).
 
To reach the preserve, drive south from Sarasota along I-75 to Exit 191 toward US-41 / State College of Florida-Venice / North Port / Englewood / Gulf Beaches.) Merge onto North River Road. Drive 5 ½ miles to Tamiami Trail South / US-41 S / FL-45 S, turn left on US-41. Drive 1.2 miles to turn around road. Make a u-turn here. You will see the sign and gate on your right at 10201 Tamiami Trail S, Venice. You may drive through this gate approximately ½ mile to the large parking lot near the lake.
 
Register on-line at www.scgov.net. Click Calendar of Events on the left. Click the 'All Events' drop down list, choose 'Nature Walks', and choose your event. Follow the instructions for registration.  Space for this walk is limited to 15.

Join Environmental Specialist Jeff Weber for a late night viewing of the Perseid Meteor Shower at Sarasota’s Red Bug Slough Preserve from 11:45 p.m. Thursday, August 12th to 1:30 a.m., Friday, August 13th. Grab a cup of coffee and bring an old blanket or a folding chair to enjoy one of nature’s nighttime spectaculars. Viewing will be at its peak on this date during this time period, when participants can expect to see up to 30 shooting stars per hour!

Red Bug Slough Preserve is one of many natural areas available through the county’s environmental lands program. Come join us for a rare pre-dawn excursion as we look to the heavens and enjoy nature’s chorus of frogs and crickets and possibly even a barred owl or two.

Participants should wear long pants and comfortable walking shoes that can get wet. Be sure to bring a flashlight, an old blanket or folding lawn/lounge chair, insect repellent, and light snacks or refreshments if you’d like.

Participants can reach Red Bug Slough Preserve by taking I -75 to Exit 205 (S.R. 72 or Clark Road). Go west on Clark Road to Beneva Road and turn right onto Beneva. Continue north to the preserve entrance and parking area located at 5200 North Beneva Road. We will meet in the parking area at 11:45 pm. From the parking area we will hike approximately ¼ mile to an open grassy viewing area near the lake.
Register on-line at www.scgov.net. Click Calendar of Events on the left. Click the 'All Events' drop down list, choose 'Nature Walks', and choose your event. Follow the instructions for registration. Please be sure to provide a telephone number when registering where you can be reached between 8:00 – 10:00 pm during the evening of August 12th in case it becomes necessary to cancel due to cloud cover or inclement weather. Space for this outing is limited to 30.

Explore Sleeping Turtles Preserve North with Sarasota County Volunteers Al Squires and Denny Girard on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 from 9 – 11 AM. Enjoy the preserve’s meandering trails canopied by old live oaks and pines. Along the way, Al and Denny share their boundless knowledge of botany, not just identification, but lore of the plants as well. Take in the scenery and information about the natural lands and the plants they support.
 
This preserve is one of many that are available to the public through the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program. In addition to the numerous subtropical plants, visitors may observe eagles or osprey hunting over the river corridor.
 
Participants should bring binoculars, sun screen, insect repellent, drinking water and camera (optional), wear comfortable walking shoes and a hat.
 
Participants can reach the Sleeping Turtles Preserve North, 3462 Border Road, Venice from northbound I-75, by taking exit 193 and then turning right on to Jacaranda Boulevard. From southbound I-75, take exit 193 and turn left on to Jacaranda Boulevard. Proceed north approximately 0.7 miles on Jacaranda Blvd. to the stop sign and turn right onto Border Road. Proceed approximately 2 miles east on Border Road to the bridge over the Myakka River. As you approach the bridge, the Sleeping Turtles Preserve North parking lot will be on the left (north side), immediately before the bridge.
 
Register on-line at www.scgov.net. Click Calendar of Events on the left. Click the 'All Events' drop down list, choose 'Nature Walks'. Look for the area on the bottom of the nature walk information to click to register. Space for this walk is limited to 20.

On schedule for late July, The Legacy Trail’s Dona Bay Trestle will provide a continuous non motorized trail of 10.6 miles from north of Palmer Ranch Parkway to the Venice Train Depot. At the Train Depot The Legacy connects to the Venetian Waterway Park Trail adding another 10 miles of non-motorized trail (5 miles on the east and west side of the Intracoastal Waterway).

The railing and other features are yet to be added to the Dona Bay Trestle. The beautiful trestle will complete the over water portion of The Legacy. With parking at the Laurel Community Center and Park and Nokomis Community Center and Park, a walk, run or short bicycle ride will provide travel over and access to the vistas from the Dona Bay and Roberts Bay Trestles. The Trestles also have bump-outs to provide recreational opportunities for fisherpersons and wildlife viewers.

There will be a ribbon-cutting for the completion of the Trestles in September. More information regarding the ribbon-cutting will be sent out as we receive it. This June 13th photo is courtesy of a boating FLT member. The view is looking east.